Yes/no poll on religion in state schools.

[seeker]

Do you think state schools should be secular, but with RE lessons giving information about all the main world religions as part of the curriculum?

Yes, absolutely right. I was quite peed off when I discovered that the local vicar had come in to my DS's C of E pre-school playgroup and talked about Jesus rising from the dead at Easter - they were 3-yr-olds fgs! I then had to try to explain that one to DS, when I don't believe it myself. If they had warned me I would have opted him out of it, or at least been prepared for some odd questions. And btw, it was the only primary school in the village, if there was a choice between a C of E and secular pre-school, I would have chosen secular.

Yes, as long as it doesnt go so far as in France, i would have to pay private school fees/home educate dd if she wasnt allowed to wear a headscarf in school

flimflammum - My nephew's favourite phrase for a while was "I'm going to crucify you" after having had a lesson at his C of E school!!! And then my MIL wonders why I don't want to move to send DS there!?!?!

Absolutely.

no.
Think about it. US schools are secular and no religion allowed. US is stuffed with religious people.
Here - religion part of school. Population ow only 4% Christian.
So, if you are religious you'd be asking for no religion in schools right

Yes.

Yes, church and state should not be linked

Thankfully this isn't representative of real life in my experience. In my town 3 out of 5 primaries are church schools and these three schools are the most popular, are oversubscribed and get the best results. I've never heard anyone complain about the religious status of schols in my town.

The impression I have of the french secular state system is that it is worse than our own.

Yes to OP and what fennel said

The problem with some religous symbols is how far to allow people to go. Its one thing for someone to wear a hijab, but I think its reasonable to ban the nijab.

Children with hearing impairements find it hard to lip read if they cannot see some one's face. Some religous clothing is a health and safety hazard.

The problem with religous symbols is where to draw the line. A total ban is the only fair way.

the hijab does not cover the face. And if a girl of 16 wants to wear it then she should be allowed.

Yes, agree with OP. Lots on comparative religion, teach them all about every religion going in a respectful and fair manner, but don't impose a view on them.

No religion whatsoever (like American public schools).

do you mean a niqab? that covers the face, im talking about headscarfs (hijab) which dd will be wearing from about year six age i expect

Yes definitely secular but with all major religions taught factually without bias, same as any other subject.

Do you think that this girl is being reasonable?

www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3637473/Niqab-school-is-fighting-for-girls-equality.html

the hijab is compulsory to all women past the age of puberty, the niqab is not.

Yes, all schools should be secular. There don't seem to be many voices here saying otherwise.

No. I don't.

What would actually be the problem with all state schools being secular? How would it inconvenience anybody or prevent them for carrying on their religion?

prevent FROM sorry...

No

Definitely yes

Another yes, 100% yes. They can learn about religions in history/geography/philosophy classes (you won't learn much history if you ban all mention of the various bad things done in the name of superstition, after all).
But I would and do campaign for getting rid of compulsory worship in schools. If you want your child to engage in rituals, there are plenty of places to do and do it communally and you can do it at home - why bore children with it when it's irrelevant to many of them anyway?